A Serbian Handbook: A Detailed Guide to Living in Belgrade

We moved to Serbia in January 2020 – right before the Covid pandemic and the need to wear masks and social distance started. We had some friends and colleagues that made the transition easier but have since gathered some tips about life in Belgrade that we wish we’d known before the big move. We won’t really go into detail on visa applications or that complicated process, as it varies greatly by country and case, but hope these suggestions help!

Before the Move

Gather the right documents: Serbia has very few restrictions when it comes to entering the country – despite the Covid realities. In most places, including the US, you’ll need to present your passport. If you’re planning on moving to Serbia, make sure to research what you need to submit visa applications and gather all the relevant documents in advance. It will be much easier to do from home than from here.

Explore the different neighborhoods: Belgrade is affordable, much more affordable than neighboring countries. You can find a snack or even a meal for a couple of dollars at a bakery or a traditional restaurant, and accommodation (depending on preference) can also be quite inexpensive. But the neighborhoods do vary quite a lot, and you’ll want to make sure you have a sense of them before making the decision of where to live.

After living in Belgrade for two years, we’ve gotten to know the city quite well. Though we stayed in the same apartment during our time there, we spent a significant amount of time exploring other neighborhoods – either at restaurants, visiting friends, or simply walking around. 

To make your research a little easier, we’ve put together a guide outlining the pros and cons of six neighborhoods in Belgrade and have also included our favorite accommodations for each of them in case you need a place to stay before you find the one to rent.

Buy the right plug or adaptor in advance: In Serbia, the power plugs and sockets are type F, like in most of Europe. The standard voltage is 230 V, meaning you can use your appliances if the voltage in your country is between 220 – 240 V (UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa). If you’re visiting from somewhere else (like the US), you’ll need a voltage converter to keep your electronics safe. Make sure to buy them in advance as they can be more expensive or tougher to find here.

We love the Bestek power adapter, which can charge up to 7 devices at the same time and also works as a converter, and the Tripshell Elago adapter if you’re looking for something smaller that will still work around the world.

Bring all the electronics you think you may need: Life in Belgrade tends to be pretty affordable, but electronics are one of the exceptions. They are all generally imported, so prices are much higher than they would generally be in the US. Will you be needing a new phone or computer soon? Or perhaps a camera? Make sure to bring it from home or purchase it in advance. It will save you quite a bit of time and money – just make sure to follow any voltage rules to prevent them from frying.

On that note, investing in a kindle is also not a bad idea. There are some bookstores that sell books in English here, but the supply is limited. So if you’re an avid reader, looking for a variety of books in English, you’ll need to either own a kindle or bring the books with you from somewhere else. We purchased the Kindle Paperwhite on our first trip back to the US after the move and it’s made a huge difference.

Buy the medicines you may need in advance: Before you move, think of all the medicines you may need: ibuprofen, tums, allergy medicine, any prescription medication… And make sure to bring all of them with you, just to be safe. You may be able to find them here, but you’ll feel safer if you have enough to last you for a few months. Also note that medication in bulk is not a thing here, so if you use something daily, it may be safest to bring them from home. After a visit to the pharmacy, you’ll have a better sense of the local equivalent and the things that are simply impossible to find here.

Memorize the phrase: Izvini, da li govorite engleski?: Most people speak very good English, but you’ll find the question “excuse me, do you speak English” very helpful for life in Belgrade. It’ll come in handy when people approach you with a question in the street, or when you’re at a restaurant or at a shop. If you’re trying to pronounce it, our best approach at phonetics goes like this: Eez – veenie da lee go vorete en gleskie.

Take out cash at the airport ATM: Serbia’s official currency is the Serbian dinar. Credit cards are now accepted in most hotels and shops, but it’s always safe to carry some cash for taxis or markets. If you have a bank card with little or no ATM fees, the cheapest way to get dinars is directly through an ATM. If you’re ever asked if you want the money in euros, dollars or in dinars, always choose dinars. This way you’ll get near-perfect exchange rates.

We love our Charles Schwab checking account card since it has no foreign transaction fees and no ATM fees, meaning you can use it for free anywhere you go in Serbia.

Download the right taxi apps: Uber does not exist in Serbia, but they do have CarGo, which serves a similar purpose. Be warned that you may not find a taxi at peak times and at times the car may take longer to arrive than originally announced, but it is overall pretty reliable. The cars are nice and modern and you can upload your credit card in advance so you don’t need cash. Another option is Yandex Go or Pink Taxi. They can be particularly reliable when all CarGos are booked, but you will need cash to pay for the service. Downloading these apps in advance will make life in Belgrade a lot easier!

If you’re leaving the airport, you can order a taxi this way, or you can get one directly at the airport. Avoid anyone who may approach you with an offer, and only trust the yellow counter that is right near the exit (it’s a small airport, so tough to miss). The people there generally speak English and will provide you with a piece of paper marking the price and your final destination. You will then hand this over to the taxi drivers right outside. This is a safe option and you’ll know the price in advance which avoids any additional costs.

If you’re in the city, avoid flagging taxis unless they have a Pink Taxi sign. Taxi drivers are not afraid to overcharge passengers, especially foreigners, and may even pretend to be using a meter when they’re not. Pink Taxi is the one we’ve found to be most reliable and honest.

During the First Week

During the first week:

Register as a visitor: Every foreigner visiting Serbia must register with the government by submitting a form known as white card or bela karta. If you are staying in a hotel, hostel or Airbnb, you don’t need to register in person, as the owners of the place will take care of it on your behalf. However, if you’re staying in a private residence, or once you move from a hotel to your own place, you’ll need to register in person at the nearest police station. We strongly encourage you to bring your landlord or a local if you don’t speak Serbian, since many of the officers speak little English.

The whole process takes about an hour. You need to fill out a residence application form, which you can find here, and submit it at the nearest police station. At the station, the officers will fill out the “white card” and stamp it. It’s a simple white paper with a blue stamp, but it is essential for all future visa applications. If you’re just visiting, you should also make sure to carry the document with you during your stay and the document will be collected at customs once you depart Serbia.

Join the Belgrade Foreign Visitors Club on Facebook: There are several services out there for expats, and we’re sure many are great, but the Belgrade Foreign Visitors Club page on Facebook is truly like no other we’ve ever seen. It’s well managed, meaning they only allow posts that are respectful and actually helpful, and its members are very responsive. This page is key for surviving life in Belgrade. It helped us find an incredible dog sitter for our pup and has answered many random questions for us, from where to buy a good yoga mat to where to find the best ćevapi. This page has also been critical in keeping us up to date on Covid restrictions. Not all posts are serious, though, and it’s also become a trusted place for a quick laugh.

Familiarize yourself with the Menjačnica: Even though the official currency is the dinar, most landlords, gyms or official businesses take euros. This can become a problem if you’re an American with no foreing bank account, as ATM’s will only give you dinars. This is where the Menjačnica or exchange offices come in. They are in almost every corner and the easiest way to exchange your dinars. The exchange rate is generally favorable, but will vary from one to another, so you’ll want to experiment until you find the best one near you. If you can, avoid exchange offices at the airport as they offer the worst rates. Menjačnica are generally safe and trustworthy, but always ask how much money you will get back and have an idea of how much you think it should be. Count the money too as mistakes can happen. This will prevent any fraudulent transactions and a smoother life in Belgrade.

Get a sim card: The best way to avoid roaming charges is to get a sim card with a local Serbian company. There are three of them in the city: VIP, MTS and Telenor, but we found VIP to be the most effective. VIP and MTS offer tourist sim cards, but we went directly with a rechargeable one. We pay 400 Serbian dinars a month (about $4), which offers 3GB of data plus 1000 calling minutes. This will expire after one month, regardless of whether or not you have any credit remaining. This means we have to go to the store once a month to recharge our phone plans. It is a bit of an inconvenience, but you can’t be the price. Plus, if you go during the day, the lines are shorter and the process is generally pretty quick. The tellers usually take care of getting the phone up and running, but just make sure the data is working before you leave the store. This will avoid having to go back if there are any issues.

Download the best food delivery apps: In our opinion, the best food delivery apps are Wolt and Donesi – they have been a lifesaver during the Covid quarantine! They both allow you to insert your credit card in advance and are generally on time and reliable. They both have great customer service too. We find Wolt a bit more user friendly, so use it most often, but rely on Donesi for certain restaurants only available on that app.

Still have questions about life in Belgrade, check out our full travel guide to exploring Serbia here!